Chanda, Somen (1920-1942) political activist and writer, born Somendra Kumar Chanda on 24 May 1920 in narsingdi. He passed the Entrance examination in 1936 from Pogose School, Dhaka. He was admitted to Dhaka Mitford Medical School but had to discontinue his studies because of ill health. He joined the pragati lekhak sangha and became involved in Marxist politics and literary activism. He was killed on 8 March 1942 while participating in a procession organised by the Soviet Friendship Society.

Somen Chanda's political and literary careers were intertwined. Politically committed, he wrote stories describing the struggle of ordinary people and attempted to raise public awareness about their sufferings. Most of Somen Chanda's writings were read at the weekly and fortnightly meetings of the Progressive Writers' Association. His story 'Vanaspati' was published in Kranti (1940). Sangket O Anyanya Galpa (1943) and Vanaspati O Anyanya Galpa (1944) were published from Dhaka and Calcutta after his demise. Ranesh Dasgupta edited and published Somen Chander Galpaguchchha (The Collected Stories of Somen Chanda) in 1973. His story, 'Indur' (The Rat), has been translated into different languages. [Abul Hasnat]